SFPE’s 9th International Conference on Performance-Based Codes and Fire Safety Methods

Back from Hong Kong, great city, great people.

I’ve been attending the SFPE’s 9th International Conference on Performance-Based Codes and Fire Safety Methods. The conference was very interesting with really exciting presentations.

I’ve been presenting what my research has shown so far.

The paper, co-authored by Cándido Gutiérrez-Montes and Guillermo Rein, was "Uncertainty of Smoke Filling Calculations in a Large Atrium through Comparison to Experimental Results".

In a few words, the data obtained by the Murcia facility has been used to compare those one obtained with numerical models. 

Two different types of numerical models have been used for the analysis:

•      Algebraic models

•      Zone models

Main conclusions:

•      The analysis has shown a significant variability in the smoke layer height using different approaches.

•      The average range of uncertainty is about ±35% with peak of almost 100%

•      Most of the results are not conservative, i.e. the predicted smoke layer is higher than the measure one.

•      The use of basic numerical models in the design of smoke control system in large enclosures need to be carefully considered before use.

The presentation was well received from the participants and many Universities have shown interest in participating to the research, in particular, the University of Maryland with Prof. James Quintiere and Prof. James Milke.

I am glad to share with you my presentation. Here you go.

SFPE_2012